Local legends Bob and Beryl Sutherland were awarded Medal’s of the order of Australia (OAM) last Tuesday.
Bob and Beryl have been part of the Armadale community since 1980, when they moved to the area.
Bob began coaching for Armadale Seniors Football Club in 1981, where he then became president.
Taking on roles across the sporting community such as Armadale Senior Football Club as president and vice-president,
Beryl has been by Bob’s side at Armadale Seniors Football Club and Armadale Sporting Club filling various roles in the canteen, as secretary, treasurer and director of finance across the years.
The Sutherlands became life members of the Armadale Sporting Club in 1986.
Bob describes receiving the OAM medal as humbling.
“We don’t help the community so we can receive recognition, we help to contribute to help people and the clubs,” he said.
Federal member for Burt Matt Keogh said Bob and Beryl extended his congratulations.
“Our community has always known Bob and Beryl Sutherland of the Armadale Senior Football club are local legends, now the rest of the country have caught on too,” he said.
“What they have done and continue to do for our community is immeasurable.”
Bob and Beryl had a passion for sport before they moved to Armadale.
Being from the country they attended country week events in their early years, which Bob said fuelled their passion to help the sporting community in Armadale.
“Both of us are sport-minded people and got a lot out of sport in our younger days. Being in the country we went to country week, we had cricket, footy, basketball and got to meet a lot of new people and made friends through sport.”
In 2008 Bob received the Community Volunteer Award and in 2011 received the Bob Sutherland Best and Fairest from Armadale Senior Football Club, which was named in his honour.
City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the Sutherlands are worthy recipients of the award.
“They are fantastic ambassadors for our region – not only for their wonderful contributions to the Armadale Senior Football Club but also the wider Armadale sporting community,” she said.
“On behalf of the City of Armadale, we give our sincere thanks to Beryl and Bob for their services.”
